Remaining Post offices struggling to meet demand after branch closures

12.00.00am GMT Wed 25th Feb 2009

During February, Simon Hughes MP has been surveying users of SE1 and SE17 post offices in Walworth Road, Old Kent Road, London Bridge and Great Dover Street. Simon's surveys show that some people are now experiencing an unsatisfactory level of service from their local post offices. As Simon warned Post Office management last year when he led the opposition to the closure of 4 post offices in North Southwark and Bermondsey, existing post offices in Southwark are now struggling to meet demand. One constituent told Simon that she visited the Walworth Road Post Office to buy £100 worth of stamps, but had to leave as the queues were so long. Another resident who used to use Dockhead Post Office now has to queue for his whole lunch break at the London Bridge branch.

Simon says " I am a huge supporter of our Post Offices and believe they need to be used and supported. But the poor level of service now being experienced by some local customers is clearly unacceptable. Not only has our community lost post offices, but it is clear that there are not always enough staff in the remaining branches to cope with the increased demand. As my constituents' expereinces show , this is actually losing the Post Office money. The shortsighted approach of closing post offices and failure of Conservative and Labour governments to protect post offices in our area means that we have all lost out. I have raised the experiences of my constituents with Post Office management to ask for more resources in existing post offices and I will continue to press the government at every opportunity to keep our remaining branches open and better staffed."